Vehicle window glass raising/lowering device, vehicle door, and vehicle

ABSTRACT

A vehicle window glass raising/lowering device includes a drive mechanism, a control unit for controlling the drive mechanism, and a camera for capturing an image of a detection line. The camera includes an optical system. The control unit includes a detection means for detecting a blocked state in which the detection line captured in an image by the camera is at least partially blocked by a foreign object, and a pinching prevention means when the blocked state is detected by the detection means during when the window glass is moved by the drive mechanism. The optical system is arranged at a position corresponding to an opening formed on an inner circumferential surface of the frame portion so that an optical axis of the optical system passes through the opening.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle window glass raising/loweringdevice, a vehicle door, and a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, vehicle window glass raising/lowering devices forautomatically raising or lowing window glasses are mounted on vehiclesso that windows can be easily opened or closed.

Vehicles doors have a storage portion for housing a retracted windowglass and a frame portion provided above the storage portion, andvehicle window glass raising/lowering devices are provided with a drivemechanism for moving a window glass vertically relative to the frameportion and a control unit for controlling the drive mechanism.

Since the window glasses are electrically raised or lowered, the vehiclewindow glass raising/lowering devices are generally provided with amechanism to prevent pinching by window glass.

It is known that one of such mechanism is configured to monitorvariation in rotational speed of a motor which drives a window glass, todetermine that a foreign object is pinched by the window glass when aload increases and the rotational speed of the motor is reduced duringraising the window glass, and to perform various safety operations suchas automatic lowering of window glass by reversing its movementdirection.

In such a mechanism, however, the safety operations are performed aftera foreign object (part of human body, etc.) is actually caught.Therefore, a load is inevitably applied to human body and this causes asafety problem. For example, in case of a vehicle having window glassesof which upper edges are inclined obliquely downward at end portions inthe front-back direction of the vehicle, and when a foreign object suchas finger enters a wedge-shaped space between the window glass and theframe portion during when the window glass is moving up, a large loadmay be applied to a part of human body, etc., even when the safetyoperation is performed. Furthermore, in this mechanism, since a regionof, e.g., 4 mm from the closing end for the window glass is oftenconfigured as an insensitive zone so that full closing of the windowglass is not incorrectly detected as occurrence of pinching, the safetyoperation may not be performed when, e.g., a finger of a young child istrapped, hence, improvement is desired.

The vehicle window glass raising/lowering device disclosed in PTL 1solved such problems.

In PTL 1, it is described that a camera is located on the vehicleinterior side with respect to the window glass as well as on thelower-front side of the vehicle with respect to the window glass, aforeign object to be possibly pinched by the window glass is detectedbased on an image captured by the camera, and various safety operationssuch as automatic lowering of window glass is performed.

In PTL 1, it is also described that a marking applied around a windowframe or an edge of the outline of the window frame, etc., is used as afeature amount for foreign object determination, and various safetyoperations are performed when a foreign object is present between themarkers, etc., used as a feature amount and the camera.

The detection of the foreign object to be possibly pinched by the windowglass based on the image captured by the camera as described in PTL 1allows a safety operation to be performed before the object is pinched,and safety is thereby further improved.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: JP 2007/186915A1

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In the meantime, in PTL 1, a camera is located on the vehicle interiorside with respect to the window frame (on the lower-front side of thevehicle with respect to the window glass) so as to cover the entirewindow frame, that is, an entire moving area of the window glass as adetection range. In PTL 1, the located position of the camera isnecessary far from the window glass.

Therefore, in a region close to the camera, a part of the passenger'sbody is located between the camera and the marker, etc., even apassenger is present in a position where the passenger is normally notjudged as the foreign object, depending on the position of the seat orthe physical size of the passenger, and this causes a safety operationsuch as automatic lowering of window glass or halt of window glassmovement to be performed during raising the window glass even thoughthere is actually no possibility of getting pinched by the window glass.There is also a case where the window glass cannot be raised or loweredeven though the raising/lowering operation is intended.

As described above, in PTL 1, in such a case, it is not possible toclose or move the window even when a user wants to close or move thewindow in normal use. In view of convenience, improvement is desired.

It is an object of an embodiment of the invention to provide a vehiclewindow glass raising/lowering device that makes it possible to preventpinching by the window glass without impairing convenience.

Solution to Problem

According to one embodiment, the invention provides a vehicle windowglass raising/lowering device, comprising: a drive mechanism arranged ona vehicle door comprising a storage portion for housing a window glassand a frame portion provided above the storage portion to verticallymove the window glass relative to the frame portion; a control unit forcontrolling the drive mechanism; and a camera for capturing an image ofa detection line provided on a vehicle interior side with respect to thewindow glass, the detection line being along at least a portion of theframe portion and an upper surface of a door trim attached on a vehicleinterior side of the storage portion, wherein the camera comprises anoptical system including at least one lens and an image pickup deviceonto which a subject image is focused by the optical system, wherein thecontrol unit comprises a detection means for detecting a blocked statein which the detection line captured in an image by the camera is atleast partially blocked by a foreign object, and a pinching preventionmeans that causes the drive mechanism to perform a pinch preventionoperation for preventing pinching by the window glass when the blockedstate is detected by the detection means during when the window glass ismoved by the drive mechanism, and wherein the optical system is arrangedat a position corresponding to an opening formed on an innercircumferential surface of the frame portion so that an optical axis ofthe optical system passes through the opening and the door trim beingattached on the vehicle interior side of the storage portion.

In this embodiment of the invention, it is configured that “the opticalsystem is arranged at a position corresponding to an opening formed onan inner circumferential surface of the frame portion”. In thisconfiguration, it is possible to arrange the camera close to the windowglass. As a result, it is possible to prevent such a problem that thepinch prevention operation is performed despite no risk of gettingpinched by the window glass, hence, convenience can be improved.Furthermore, the entire moving area of the window glass can be thedetection range by monitoring the detection line located on the frameportion and the upper surface of the door trim.

According to another embodiment, the invention also provides A vehicledoor, comprising: a storage portion for housing a window glass; a frameportion provided above the storage portion; a drive mechanism thatvertically moves the window glass relative to the frame portion; acontrol unit for controlling the drive mechanism; and a camera forcapturing an image of a detection line provided on the vehicle interiorside with respect to the window glass, the detection line being along atleast a portion of the frame portion and an upper surface of a door trimattached on a vehicle interior side of the storage portion, wherein thecamera comprises an optical system including at least one lens and animage pickup device onto which a subject image is focused by the opticalsystem, wherein the control unit comprises a detection means fordetecting a blocked state in which the detection line captured in animage by the camera is at least partially blocked by a foreign object,and a pinching prevention means that causes the drive mechanism toperform a pinch prevention operation for preventing pinching by thewindow glass when the blocked state is detected by the detection meansduring when the window glass is moved by the drive mechanism, andwherein the optical system is arranged at a position corresponding tothe opening formed on an inner circumferential surface of the frameportion so that an optical axis of the optical system passes through theopening.

According to another embodiment, the invention also provides a vehiclecomprising: the vehicle door described above.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to an embodiment of the invention, it is possible to provide avehicle window glass raising/lowering device that makes it possible toprevent pinching by the window glass without impairing convenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a vehicle window glassraising/lowering device in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a door when viewed fromthe upper side inside a vehicle.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the door when viewed fromthe lower-front side of the vehicle.

FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram illustrating the positions andalignment of a camera and a detection line.

FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of FIG. 4A showing the portion provided withthe camera.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an imagecaptured by the camera after trimming

FIG. 6 is a top view illustrating a position of a detection surface.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control flow of the vehicle window glassraising/lowering device.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT Embodiment

An embodiment of the invention will be described below in reference tothe drawings

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a vehicle window glassraising/lowering device in the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, a door 2 of a vehicle (vehicle door) mounting avehicle window glass raising/lowering device 1 has a storage portion 21for housing a window glass 3 and a frame portion 22 provided above thestorage portion 21. A door trim 23 is attached on the vehicle interiorside of the storage portion 21 so as to cover the storage portion 21.

The frame portion 22 is composed of a rear upright portion 22 aextending upwards from an end of the storage portion 21 on the rear sidein the front-back direction of the vehicle, a front upright portion 22 bextending upwards from the storage portion 21 on the front side withrespect to the rear upright portion 22 a, and an upper extended portion22 c extending from the top end of the rear upright portion 22 a to thetop end of the front upright portion 22 b. When the window glass 3 isfully closed, the window glass 3 is positioned in a space surrounded bythe frame portion 22 and the upper edge portion of the door trim 23.

The vehicle window glass raising/lowering device 1 is provided with adrive mechanism 4 for driving the window glass 3 and a control unit 5for controlling the drive mechanism 4.

The drive mechanism 4 is to move the window glass 3 vertically relativeto the frame portion 22, and is provided with a motor 41 such as DCmotor and a power conversion mechanism 42 for converting a drive forceof the motor 41 into power to vertically move the window glass 3. Thepower conversion mechanism 42 which can be used here is, e.g., a windowregulator which is provided with a carrier plate supporting the windowglass 3 and slidably moving along a guide rail and is configured toslidably move a wire along the guide rail by a drive force of the motor41 and thereby to vertically move the carrier plate attached to the wireand the window glass 3 along the guide rail. An X-Arm type or anothertype of regulator can be also used as the power conversion mechanism 42.

A switch (SW) 24 is provided on the door 2 to open/close the windowglass 3. An output signal line of the switch 24 is connected to thecontrol unit 5. The switch 24 is constructed from, e.g., a two-stageclick-type rocker switch which is configured to output a signal to thecontrol unit 5, such that a first-level move-down click signal is outputwhen an end on the move-down side is clicked to the first level, asecond-level move-down click signal is output when the end on themove-down side is clicked to the second level, a first-level move-upclick signal is output when the other end on the move-up side is clickedto the first level, and a second-level move-up click signal is outputwhen the other end on the move-up side is clicked to the second level.

The control unit 5 controls the drive mechanism 4 according to thesignal from the switch 24 to vertically move the window glass 3. Thecontrol unit 5, as a control unit constructed by appropriately combiningCPU, memory, interface and software, etc., is mounted on the door 2.Other than on the door 2, the control unit 5 may alternatively bemounted as a part of, e.g., an electronic control unit (ECU) whichcontrols mirrors or seats of the vehicle.

The control unit 5 is configured to control the drive mechanism 4 suchthat when a first-level move-down click signal is input from the switch24, the window glass 3 is lowered during when the signal is being input,and when a second-level move-down click signal is input, the windowglass 3 continues to move down until the window glass 3 reaches thebottom or the switch 24 is operated again. Also, the control unit 5controls the drive mechanism 4 such that when a first-level move-upclick signal is input from the switch 24, the window glass 3 is raisedduring when the signal is being input, and when a second-level move-upclick signal is input, the window glass 3 continues to move up until thewindow glass 3 reaches the top or the switch 24 is operated again.

Next, a configuration to prevent pinching by the window glass 3 will bedescribed.

The vehicle window glass raising/lowering device 1 is provided with acamera 7 which captures an image of a detection line 6. The detectionline 6 is provided on the vehicle interior side with respect to thewindow glass 3 and is at least partially along the frame portion 22 andthe door trim 23. In the present embodiment, whether or not a foreignobject to be possibly pinched by the window glass 3 is present is judgedbased on an image captured by the camera 7. A specific configuration andinstalled position of the camera 7 will be described later.

The detection line 6 is a reference line for judging the existence of aforeign object to be possibly pinched by the window glass 3, and isprovided on the vehicle interior side with respect to the window glass3. A specific configuration and setting position of the detection line 6will be described later.

In the present embodiment, light sources 8 emitting infrared radiationtoward the detection line 6 are also provided. The camera 7 isconstructed from an infrared camera which captures the infraredradiation emitted from the light sources 8 and reflected by thedetection line 6. Since the light sources 8 are provided, a foreignobject to be possibly pinched can be detected also during the night, orin a dark place even in a daytime where infrared radiation does notreach, e.g., in an underground parking, etc. A light source which emitsnear infrared radiation can be used as the light source 8.

The control unit 5 has a detection unit 51 and a pinching preventionunit 52. The detection unit 51, which is one aspect of the detectionmeans of the invention, detects a blocked state in which the detectionline 6 captured by the camera 7 is at least partially blocked by aforeign object. The pinching prevention unit 52, which is one aspect ofthe pinching prevention means of the invention, causes the drivemechanism 4 to perform a pinch prevention operation for preventingpinching by the window glass 3 when the blocked state is detected by thedetection unit 51 during when the window glass 3 is moved by the drivemechanism 4.

The detection unit 51 is provided with an image processing section 51 awhich processes an image captured by the camera 7 and extracts thedetection line 6, and a blocked state determination section 51 b whichdetermines, based on the image processed by the image processing section51 a, whether or not it is the blocked state in which the detection line6 is at least partially blocked by a foreign object.

A specific method of extracting the detection line 6 by the imageprocessing section 51 a is not specifically limited. For example, whenan unnecessary portion is removed by trimming the image captured by thecamera 7 and posterization process, binarization process or edgedetection process is performed, the detection line 6 with brightnessdifferent from surrounding members can be extracted.

The blocked state determination section 51 b is configured that, forexample, an image in a non-blocked state (which is an image after beingprocessed by the image processing section 51 a) is preliminarily storedas an initial state image, and whether or not the detection line 6 isblocked by an foreign object is determined by comparing the initialstate image to an image output from the image processing section 51 a.The blocked state determination section 51 b is configured to, e.g.,compare the initial state image to an image output from the imageprocessing section 51 a and to determine it is the blocked state when adifference of the edge of the extracted detection line 6 or a differenceof the area of the detection line 6 exceeds a preset foreign objectdetermination threshold.

The pinching prevention unit 52 causes the drive mechanism 4 to performa pinch prevention operation for preventing pinching by the window glass3 when the blocked state is detected by the detection unit 51 duringwhen the window glass 3 is moved by the drive mechanism 4. The pinchprevention operation includes an operation of stopping movement of thewindow glass 3, an operation of lowing the window glass 3 to a safeposition, an operation of warning an operator by sound or light from analarm device installed inside the vehicle, and a combination thereof.

The control unit 5 is further provided with a command cancellation unit53 which cancels a command from the switch 24 when the blocked state isdetected by the detection unit 51 after a command to move the windowglass 3 is issued from the switch 24 but before the window glass 3starts to move. Since the command cancellation unit 53 is provided, thewindow glass 3 does not move during when the blocked state is detected,and safety is thus further improved. The command cancellation unit 53 isone aspect of the command cancellation means of the invention.

Next, specific configurations, etc., of the camera 7 and the detectionline 6 will be described.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the door 2 when viewedfrom the upper side inside a vehicle, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagramillustrating the door 2 when viewed from the lower-front side of thevehicle, FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram illustrating the positionsand alignment of the camera 7 and a detection line 6, and FIG. 4B is anenlarged view of FIG. 4A showing the portion provided with the camera.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4B, in the vehicle window glass raising/loweringdevice 1 of the present embodiment, the camera 7 has an optical system71 including at least one lens and an image pickup device 72 onto whicha subject image is focused by the optical system 71, and the opticalsystem 71 is arranged at a position corresponding to an opening 25formed on an inner circumferential surface of the frame portion 22 sothat an optical axis C of the optical system 71 passes through theopening 25.

In other words, in the present embodiment, the camera 7 is provided onthe inner circumferential surface of the frame portion 22. The innercircumferential surface of the frame portion 22 here is a surface of theframe portion 22 facing the window glass 3 and is composed of a surfaceof the rear upright portion 22 a on the front side of the vehicle, asurface of the front upright portion 22 b on the rear side of thevehicle, and a surface of the upper extended portion 22 c on the lowerside. In other words, the inner circumferential surface of the frameportion 22 is a part of an outer surface of the frame portion 22 in thevicinity of the window glass 3.

The opening 25 is formed on the vehicle interior side with respect tothe window glass 3, and the optical system 71 of the camera 7 isarranged so that the optical axis C is located on the vehicle interiorside with respect to the windows glass 3.

Furthermore, the optical system 71 of the camera 7 is arranged above thedoor trim 23. In this configuration, the detection line 6 provided onthe upper surface S of the door trim 23 can be captured by the camera 7.In the present embodiment, a hole 26 that becomes as the opening 25 andthe camera 7 is attached in the hole 26. Although the camera 7 in thisexample is arranged so that the optical axis C of the optical system 71coincides with the vertical direction when viewed in the cross sectionin FIG. 4A, the optical axis C of the optical system 71 may be inclinedwith respect to the vertical direction in the front-back direction ofthe vehicle or in the vehicle width direction, and can be appropriatelyadjusted according to the installed position or desired imaging range ofthe camera 7.

In the present embodiment, the camera 7 is arranged at the center of thelower surface B of the upper extended portion 22 c in the front-backdirection of the vehicle. However, the position of providing the camera7 is not limited thereto and may be shifted toward the front or rear ofthe vehicle and can be set according to a shape of the window glass 3etc.

The camera 7 has a columnar shape as a whole and has a flange 73 whichis formed at a top end so as to protrude radially outward. The camera 7is inserted into the hole 26 from below the upper extended portion 22 cand is fixed to the door trim 23 by arranging the flange 73 so as to behoused in a recess 26a formed at a circumferential edge of the hole 26and engaging a locking pawl 26 b, which is provided at a lowercircumferential edge of the hole 26, with a groove (not shown) providedon the camera 7. Although the top end face of the camera 7 is flush withthe lower surface B of the upper extended portion 22 c in this example,the top end face of the camera 7 may protrude downward from the lowersurface B of the upper extended portion 22 c or may be located above thelower surface B of the upper extended portion 22 c. In addition,although the camera 7 in this example is arranged so that a portion ofthe optical system 71 is located below the opening 25, the camera 7 maybe arranged so that the optical system 71 is located above the opening25. In addition, the structure for fixing the camera 7 to the upperextended portion 22 c and the direction to insert the camera 7 are notspecifically limited and can be appropriately changed.

The camera 7 is desirably configured so that the imaging range (aviewing angle) thereof covers the entire moving area of the window glass3. In detail, the viewing angle of the camera 7 desirably covers therange from the vertically lower portion to the top end of the rearupright portion 22 a on the rear side of the vehicle and from thevertically lower portion to the top end of the front upright portion 22b on the front end of the vehicle. An example of an image captured bythe camera 7 (an image after trimming) is shown in FIG. 5.

It is desirable to use a wide-angle lens as the optical system 71 of thecamera 7 so that a foreign object can be detected in the range describedabove. The optical system 71 used in this example is formed by combiningplural ultra-wide angle lenses so as to have a viewing range of not lessthan 180°, or 190° taking into account the installation precision, inthe front-back direction of the vehicle.

Meanwhile, to quickly detect the foreign object, the frame rate of theimage pickup device 72 used is desirably as high as possible. In thepresent embodiment, a CMOS (Complementary MOS) image sensor is used asthe image pickup device 72.

The detection line 6 is provided along the inner circumferentialsurfaces of the rear upright portion 22 a and the front upright portion22 b, and the upper surface S of the door trim 23 on the vehicleinterior side with respect to the window glass 3. In the presentembodiment, the detection line 6 is continuously provided on the innercircumferential surfaces of all the rear upright portion 22 a, the frontupright portion 22 b, and the upper surface S of the door trim 23 facingthe window glass 3, on the vehicle interior side at a distance from thewindow glass 3.

The upper surface S of the door trim 23 here is an outer surface of thedoor trim 23 at a top edge portion and is a surface which is visiblefrom above in a vertical direction. The upper surface S of the door trim23 may be inclined with respect to the vehicle width direction(horizontal direction). The door trim 23 is generally curved such thatthe upper surface S has the highest portion in the vicinity of thewindow glass 3, i.e., in the vicinity of an exit slot 21 a allowing thewindow glass 3 to come out from the storage portion 21, and slopes downas a distance from the window glass 3 increases. Thus, the upper surfaceS of the door trim 23 is an outer surface of the door trim 23 (a portioncorresponding to a lower surface of the window frame) in the vicinity ofthe window glass 3 (the exit slot 21 a).

In the present embodiment, although the detection line 6 is not providedon the upper extended portion 22 c since the upper extended portion 22 cis formed substantially flat, in case that, the upper extended portion22 c curves large, (e.g. in the case that the upper extended portion 22c curves downward from the rear side of the vehicle to the front side ofthe vehicle in a front door), the foreign object is desirably detectedin the entire moving area of the window glass 3 by providing thedetection line 6 on the inner circumferential surface of the upperextended portion 22 c.

A detection surface 9 described hereinafter is a plane formed byconnecting points between the optical system 71 of the camera 7 and thedetection line 6 at which the foreign object when located thereon causesthe blocked state. As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 6, in the presentembodiment, the detection surface 9 is arranged in a region surroundedby the upper surface of the door trim 23 and the inner circumferentialsurface of the frame portion 22. The detection surface 9 issubstantially the same as a plane connecting the center of the opticalsystem 71 (the center in the vehicle width direction, the heightdirection and the front-back direction of the vehicle) to the detectionline 6, although depending on the specific configuration of the opticalsystem 71.

The light source 8 is configured such that the entire detection line 6is exposed to radiation. Although four light sources 8 are used in thisexample to emit infrared radiation onto the entire detection line 6, thenumber of the light sources 8 is not limited thereto. In addition,although the light sources 8 in this example are arranged on the upperextended portion 22 c in the vicinity of the camera 7, the positions ofthe light sources 8 are not limited thereto. For example, the lightsources 8 may be arranged on the upper surface S of the door trim 23,the inner circumferential surface of the rear upright portion 22 a, andthe inner surface of the front upright portion 22 b.

A distance d1 in the vehicle width direction between the camera 7 andthe window glass 3 (a distance in the vehicle width direction between anouter surface center of the optical system 71 and the window glass 3)and a distance d2 in the vehicle width direction between the detectionline 6 and the window glass 3 are defined by taking into account safetyand convenience. In detail, the detection line 6 is desirably providedon a position where pinching can be sufficiently prevented by takinginto account the anticipated advancing speed of the foreign object, theframe rate of the camera 7, the operating speed of the control unit 5(time that elapses from when the image is captured to when it is judgedthat the foreign object enters) and the speed that the drive mechanism 4stops the movement of the window glass 3 (the time that elapses beforethe window glass 3 stops) in view of safety. The camera 7 and thedetection line 6 are desirably arranged possibly in the vicinity of thewindow glass 3 in view of convenience since a part of the passenger'sbody may be located between the camera 7 and the detection line 6depending on the position of the seat or the physical size of thepassenger. The distances d1 and d2 should be defined in a region where adistance in which safety can be sufficient to be ensured and a distancein which fails to cause inconvenience lap over each other by taking intoaccount these terms.

For example, given that the frame rate of the camera 7 is 400 fps (frameper second, 2.5 ms per frame), the time that elapses from when the imageis captured to when it is judged that the foreign object enters is 10 ms(on the assumption that the brightness correction process, etc.,requires up to 7.5 ms and the foreign object detection process requires2.5 ms) and the time for stopping the window glass 3 is 20 ms, thewindow glass 3 is stopped 30 ms after the image is captured. In thiscase, given that the advancing speed of the foreign object is 1 m/s, theforeign object travels 30 mm in 30 ms. Therefore, sufficient safety canbe ensured by stopping the window glass 3 before contact between aforeign object and the window glass 3 in the entire moving area of thewindow glass 3 by defining the distances d1, d2 not less than 30 mm (adistance in the vehicle width direction between the detection surface 9and the window glass 3).

Meanwhile, the inventors actually verify to a plurality types ofvehicles. The inventors confirm that sufficient convenience can beensured by defining the distances d1, d2 within 25 to 30 mm. As anexample, a result in verifying convenience between two type vehiclesthat are different in a distance d3 between the window glass 3 and anedge (an end face) of the door trim 23 on the vehicle interior side (seee.g. FIG. 4A), and a distance d4 between the window glass 3 and an edge(an end face) of the upper extended portion 22 c on the vehicle interiorside (see e.g. FIG. 4A) will be shown in Table1. Furthermore, Table 1also shows a result in verifying convenience by locating the camera 7 onthe vehicle interior side with respect to the window frame (on thelower-front side of the vehicle with respect to the window glass 3) as aconventional example. In Table 1, the distance d1 in the vehicle widthdirection between the camera 7 and the window glass 3 according to thepresent invention is set to 30 mm and the distance in the vehicle widthbetween the camera 7 and the window glass 3 according to theconventional example is set to 50 mm. Both distances d2 in the vehiclewidth direction between the detection line 6 and the window glass 3according to the present invention and according to the conventionalexample are set to 30 mm.

TABLE 1 Vehicle 1 Vehicle 2 Distance d3 (mm) 30 to 40 35 to 50 Distanced4 (mm) 35 40 Present Conven- Present Conven- inven- tional inven-tional tion example tion example Distance between the camera 30 50 30 50and the window glass Existence of a foreign NO NO NO NO object detectionwhen the passenger sits (the sheet position located at the rear side)Existence of a foreign NO YES NO YES object detection when the passengersits (the sheet position located at the front side)

As shown in Table 1, according to the present invention in which thedistance d1 in the vehicle width direction between the camera 7 and thewindow glass 3 is set to 30 mm, the foreign object is not detectedduring the passenger exists (sits) without reference to the position ofthe sheet. Meanwhile, according to the conventional example, when theposition of the sheet is in the front side, the part of the passenger'sbody is located between the camera 7 and the detection line 6 dependingon the physical size of the passenger during the passenger exists(sits), and this causes a result that the foreign object is detectedeven though there is actually no possibility of getting pinched by thewindow glass 3. As the inventors further verify, the inventors confirmthat sufficient convenience can be ensured by setting the distances d1,d2 within 25 to 30 mm for the vehicle whose width of the upper surface Sof the door trim 23 is approximately 40 mm (e.g., within 30 to 50 mm).

From above result, in view of safety, the distances d1, d2 are desirablynot less than 30 mm, and in view of convenience, the distances d1, d2are desirably within 25 to 30 mm. Therefore, in such case, the distancesd1, d2 are desirably 30 mm.

The advancing speed of the foreign object is 1 m/s in the above verifyin safety, but may be estimated to be 0.5 m/s in view of preventing,e.g., a part of elderly person's body, etc., from being pinched, and thewindow glass 3 can be stopped before contact between a foreign objectand the window glass 3 by setting the distances d1 and d2 not less than14.5 mm In addition, even when the frame rate of the camera 7 in suchcase is increased to 1000 fps (1 ms per frame), the window glass 3 canbe stopped before contact between a foreign object and the window glass3 by setting the distances d1 and d2 not less than 24 mm. Furthermore,sufficient convenience may be ensured even though the distances d1 andd2 are not less than 30 mm depending on the width of the door trim 23and the size of the vehicle interior of an applied vehicle. Therefore,the distances d1 and d2 can be suitably set with respect to desiredsafety or an ability of using member such as the camera 7 and the driveunit 4. Meanwhile, the distance d2 between the detection line 6 and thewindow glass 3 does not need to be constant.

The detection line 6 is formed so that brightness under infraredradiation is different from surrounding members. For example, when ametal (sheet metal) constituting the door 2 and a rubber member (waist)on the vehicle body are adjacent to each other in the state that thedoor 2 is closed, a boundary therebetween (i.e., a boundary between thedoor 2 and the vehicle body) can be used as the detection line 6.Meanwhile, when the inner surface of the frame portion 22 is formed of aresin, a line formed by providing a recess on a portion of the resin soas to have a different infrared reflectance from the surroundings can beused as the detection line 6. However, it is not limited thereto. Thedetection line 6 may be formed by applying a highly infrared reflectivepaint to the inner surface of the frame portion 22, or may be anexisting member of which brightness under infrared radiation isdifferent from surroundings.

In the present embodiment, the pinch prevention operation is alsoperformed when the blocked state is detected during when the windowglass 3 is moving down. This is to prevent a part of human body such asfinger from being dragged into the exit slot 21 a during when the windowglass 3 is moving down. A weather strip 30 having a lip seal 30 aslidably in contact with the window glass 3 is provided around the exitslot 21 a to prevent ingress of water, etc., into the storage portion 21(an internal space of the door 2). When the window glass 3 is lowered,clothing or a part of human body such as finger may be dragged, togetherwith the lip seal 30 a, into the storage portion 21. In the presentembodiment, it is possible to prevent such dragging and thereby tofurther improve safety. Here, an operation of moving down the windowglass 3 is not included in the pinch prevention operation which isperformed when the blocked state is detected during when the windowglass 3 is moving down.

Next, a control flow of the vehicle window glass raising/lowering device1 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, the vehicle window glass raising/lowering device 1is configured such that the control unit 5 firstly judges whether or nota signal is input from the switch 24 at Step S1. If judged as NO at StepS1, the control unit 5 controls the camera 7 to be turned off (or keptin the off-state) at Step S2 and the flow is allowed to return to StepSt If the light sources 8 are turned on at this stage, the light sources8 are also turned off at Step S2, though it is not shown in the drawing.

If judged as YES at Step S1, the control unit 5 controls the camera 7 tobe turned on (or kept in the on-state) at Step S3 and the flow isallowed to proceed to Step S4. If the illumination intensity to capturean image by the camera 7 is not enough, the light sources 8 are turnedon at Step S3, though it is not shown in the drawing.

At Step S4, the detection unit 51 (i.e., the image processing section 51a and the blocked state determination section 51 b) performs aprocessing of detecting the blocked state (i.e., a blocked statedetection processing) based on the image captured by the camera 7. Afterthat, at Step S5, the command cancellation unit 53 judges whether or notthe blocked state is detected by the detection unit 51.

If judged as YES at Step S5, the command cancellation unit 53 determinesthat there is a risk of being pinched by the window glass 3 and the flowis allowed to return to Step S1 without moving the window glass 3 (i.e.,the signal from the switch 24 is cancelled).

If judged as NO at Step S5, the control unit 5 judges whether or not thesignal input from the switch 24 is a first-level click signal (afirst-level move-down click signal or a first-level move-up clicksignal) at Step S6.

If judged as YES at Step S6, the control unit 5 instructs the drivemechanism 4 to control the movement of the window glass 3 at Step S7.

After that, at Step S8, the detection unit 51 performs a processing ofdetecting the blocked state (i.e., a blocked state detection processing)based on the image captured by the camera 7. After that, at Step S9, thepinching prevention unit 52 judges whether or not the blocked state isdetected by the detection unit 51.

If judged as YES at Step S9, there is a risk of being pinched by thewindow glass 3. Accordingly, the pinching prevention unit 52 performs apinch prevention operation such as halting the movement of the windowglass 3 or lowering the window glass 3 to the safe position at Step S10.After that, the control unit 5 terminates the movement of the windowglass 3 at Step S18 and the flow is allowed to return to Step S2. Asdescribe above, in the present embodiment, if the blocked state isdetected while the first-level click signal is being input from theswitch 24, the movement of the window glass 3 is terminated afterperforming the pinch prevention operation.

If judged as NO at Step S9, there is no risk of being pinched by thewindow glass 3. Accordingly, the control unit 5 judges whether or not asignal is input from the switch 24 at Step S11. If judged as NO at StepS11, this means that an operation on the switch 24 is finished.Accordingly, the control unit 5 terminates the movement of the windowglass 3 at Step S18 and the flow is allowed to return to Step S2. Ifjudged as YES at Step S11, the flow is allowed to return to Step S6 andthe window glass 3 is kept moving.

On the other hand, if judged as NO at Step S6, i.e., if a second-levelclick signal (a second-level move-down click signal or a second-levelmove-up click signal) is input from the switch 24, the control unit 5instructs the drive mechanism 4 to control the movement of the windowglass 3 at Step S12.

After that, at Step S13, the detection unit 51 performs a processing ofdetecting the blocked state (i.e., a blocked state detection processing)based on the image captured by the camera 7. After that, at Step 14, thepinching prevention unit 52 judges whether or not the blocked state isdetected by the detection unit 51.

If judged as YES at Step S14, there is a risk of being pinched by thewindow glass 3.

Accordingly, the pinching prevention unit 52 performs a pinch preventionoperation at Step S15. After that, the movement of the window glass 3 isterminated at Step S18 and the flow is allowed to return to Step S2. Inother words, in the present embodiment, if the second-level click signalis input from the switch 24 and the blocked state is detected duringwhen the window glass 3 is moving, the movement of the window glass 3 isterminated after performing the pinch prevention operation.

If judged as NO at Step S14, there is no risk of being pinched by thewindow glass 3. Accordingly, the control unit 5 judges whether or notthe window glass 3 is moved to an edge (to the top or bottom end) atStep S16. If judge as YES at Step S16, the control unit 5 terminates themovement of the window glass 3 at Step S18 and the flow is allowed toreturn to Step S2. Meanwhile, the positional information of the windowglass 3 may be obtained by using a rotational pulse generated by a HallIC incorporated in the motor 41, or using current ripple.

If judged as at Step S16, it is judged whether or not a new signal isinput from the switch 24 (i.e., whether or not a new signal is inputafter the second-level click signal is input) at Step S17. If judged asYES at Step S17, the flow is allowed to return to Step S6. If judged asNO at Step S17, the flow is allowed to return to Step S12 and the windowglass 3 is kept moving. That is, if the second-level click signal isinput, the window glass 3 is kept moving until the blocked state isdetected, the window glass 3 is moved to an edge or a new signal isinput from the switch 24.

Functions and Effects of the Embodiment

As described above, the vehicle window glass raising/lowering device 1in the present embodiment is provided with the camera 7 which capturesthe image of the detection line 6 that is provided on the vehicleinterior side with respect to the window glass 3 and is at leastpartially along the frame portion 22, and the optical system 71 isarranged at a position corresponding to the opening 25 formed on theinner circumferential surface of the frame portion 22 that is attachedon the vehicle interior side of the storage portion 21 so that theoptical axis C of the optical system 71 passes through the opening 25.

In this configuration, since the camera 7 can be arranged close to thewindow glass 3 and the detection area of the foreign object is set closeto the window glass 3, it is possible to prevent such a problem that thepinch prevention operation is performed despite no risk of gettingpinched by the window glass 3, hence, convenience can be improved whilesafety is ensured. Furthermore, the entire moving area of the windowglass 3 can be the detection range by monitoring the detection line 6located on the frame portion 22.

In addition, dust is hard to stick on the optical system 71 of thecamera 7 and incorrectly detecting caused by pollution on the opticalsystem 71 can be prevented since the camera 7 is arranged at the frameportion 22 (the upper extended portion 22 c) in the present embodiment.

Summary of the Embodiment

Technical ideas understood from the embodiment will be described belowciting the reference numerals, etc., used for the embodiment. However,each reference numeral, etc., described below is not intended to limitthe constituent elements in the claims to the members, etc.,specifically described in the embodiment.

[1] A vehicle window glass raising/lowering device (1), comprising: adrive mechanism (4) arranged on a vehicle door (2) comprising a storageportion (21) for housing a window glass (3) and a frame portion (22)provided above the storage portion (21) to vertically move a windowglass (3) relative to the frame portion (22); a control unit (5) forcontrolling the drive mechanism (4); and a camera (7) for capturing animage of a detection line (6) provided on the vehicle interior side withrespect to the window glass (3), the detection line (6) being along atleast a portion of the frame portion (22) and an upper surface (S) of adoor trim (23) attached on a vehicle interior side of the storageportion (21), wherein the camera (7) comprises an optical system (71)including at least one lens and an image pickup device (72) onto which asubject image is focused by the optical system (71), the control unit(5) comprises a detection means (51) for detecting a blocked state inwhich the detection line (6) captured in an image by the camera (7) isat least partially blocked by a foreign object, and a pinchingprevention means (52) that causes the drive mechanism (4) to perform apinch prevention operation for preventing pinching by the window glass(3) when the blocked state is detected by the detection means (51)during when the window glass (3) is moved by the drive mechanism (4),and the optical system (71) is arranged at a position corresponding toan opening (25) formed on an inner circumferential surface of the frameportion (22) so that an optical axis (C) of the optical system (71)passes through the opening (25).

[2] The vehicle window glass raising/lowering device (1) defined by [1],wherein the optical system of (71) the camera (7) is arranged above thedoor trim (23).

[3] The vehicle window glass raising/lowering device (1) defined by [2],wherein the frame portion (22) comprises a rear upright portion (22 a)extending upwards from an end of the storage portion (21) on the rearside in a front-back direction of the vehicle, a front upright portion(22 b) extending upwards from the storage portion (21) on a front sidewith respect to the rear upright portion (22 a), and an upper extendedportion (22 c) extending from a top end of the rear upright portion (22a) to a top end of the front upright portion (22 b), and the opticalsystem (71) is arranged at a position corresponding to the opening (25)formed on an inner circumferential surface of the upper extended portion(22 c) so that the optical axis (C) of the optical system (71) passesthrough the opening (25).

[4] The vehicle window glass raising/lowering device (1) defined by anyone of [1] to [3], further comprising a light source (8) that emitinfrared radiation toward the detection line (6), wherein the camera (7)comprises an infrared camera that captures the infrared radiationemitted from the light source (8) and reflected by the detection line(6).

[5] The vehicle window glass raising/lowering device (1) defined by anyone of [1] to [4], wherein the control unit (5) further comprises acommand cancellation means (53) that cancels a command for moving thewindow glass (3) when the blocked state is detected by the detectionmeans (51) after issuing the command and before starting movement of thewindow glass (3).

[6] A vehicle door (2), comprising: a storage portion (21) for housing awindow glass (3); a frame portion (22) provided above the storageportion (21); a drive mechanism (4) that vertically moves the windowglass (3) relative to the frame portion (22); a control unit (5) forcontrolling the drive mechanism (4); and a camera (7) for capturing animage of a detection line (6) provided on the vehicle interior side withrespect to the window glass (3), the detection line (6) being along atleast a portion of the frame portion (22) and an upper surface (S) of adoor trim (23) attached on a vehicle interior side of the storageportion (21), wherein the camera (7) comprises an optical system (71)including at least one lens and an image pickup device (72) onto which asubject image is focused by the optical system (71), the control unit(5) comprises a detection means (51) for detecting a blocked state inwhich the detection line (6) captured in an image by the camera (7) isat least partially blocked by a foreign object, and a pinchingprevention means (52) that causes the drive mechanism (4) to perform apinch prevention operation for preventing pinching by the window glass(3) when the blocked state is detected by the detection means (51)during when the window glass (3) is moved by the drive mechanism (4),and the optical system (71) is arranged at a position corresponding tothe opening (25) formed on an inner circumferential surface of the frameportion (22) so that an optical axis of the optical system (71) passesthrough the opening (25).

[7] The vehicle door (2) defined by [6], wherein the opening (25) isformed above the door trim (23).

[8] The vehicle door (2) defined by [7], wherein the frame portion (22)comprises a rear upright portion (22 a) extending upwards from an end ofthe storage portion (21) on the rear side in a front-back direction ofthe vehicle, a front upright portion (22 b) extending upwards from thestorage portion (21) on a front side with respect to the rear uprightportion (22 a), and an upper extended portion (22 c) extending from atop end of the rear upright portion (22 a) to a top end of the frontupright portion (22 b), and the optical system (71) is arranged at aposition corresponding to the opening (25) formed on an innercircumferential surface of the upper extending portion (22 c) so that anoptical axis (C) of the optical system (71) passes through the opening(25).

[9] The vehicle door (2) defined by any one of [6] to [8], whereinfurther comprising a light source (8) that emit infrared radiationtoward detection line (6), wherein the camera (7) comprises an infraredcamera that captures the infrared radiation emitted from the lightsource (8) and reflected by the detection line (6).

[10] The vehicle door (2) defined by any one of [6] to [9], wherein thecontrol unit (5) further comprises a command cancellation means (53)that cancels a command for moving the window glass (3) when the blockedstate is detected by the detection means (51) after issuing the commandand before starting movement of the window glass (3).

[11] A vehicle, comprising the vehicle door (2) defined by any one of[6] to [10].

Although the embodiment of the invention has been described, theinvention according to claims is not to be limited to theabove-mentioned embodiment. Further, please note that all combinationsof the features described in the embodiment are not necessary to solvethe problem of the invention.

The invention can be appropriately modified and implemented withoutdeparting from the gist thereof. For example, although it is notmentioned in the embodiment, the vehicle window glass raising/loweringdevice 1 may be provided with a safety device which monitors therotational speed of the motor 41, determines that a foreign object ispinched by the window glass when the rotational speed of the motor 41 isreduced, and performs various safety operations such as automaticlowering of the window glass 3 by reversing its movement direction.

In addition, although the invention is applied to a rear door 2 ofvehicle in the embodiment, it is not limited thereto. The invention isalso applicable to front doors of vehicle.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The invention is applicable to a vehicle window glass raising/loweringdevice which is provided with a mechanism to prevent pinching by anautomatically raising window glass.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 VEHICLE WINDOW GLASS RAISING/LOWERING DEVICE

2 DOOR (VEHICLE DOOR)

3 WINDOW GLASS

4 DRIVE MECHANISM

5 CONTROL UNIT

6 DETECTION LINE

7 CAMERA

21 STORAGE PORTION

22 FRAME PORTION

23 DOOR TRIM

25 OPENING

51 DETECTION UNIT (DETECTION MEANS)

52 PINCHING PREVENTION UNIT (PINCHING PREVENTION MEANS)

1. A vehicle window glass raising/lowering device, comprising: a drivemechanism arranged on a vehicle door comprising a storage portion forhousing a window glass and a frame portion provided above the storageportion to vertically move the window glass relative to the frameportion; a control unit for controlling the drive mechanism; and acamera for capturing an image of a detection line provided on a vehicleinterior side with respect to the window glass, the detection line beingalong at least a portion of the frame portion and an upper surface of adoor trim attached on a vehicle interior side of the storage portion,wherein the camera comprises an optical system including at least onelens and an image pickup device onto which a subject image is focused bythe optical system, wherein the control unit comprises a detection meansfor detecting a blocked state in which the detection line captured in animage by the camera is at least partially blocked by a foreign object,and a pinching prevention means that causes the drive mechanism toperform a pinch prevention operation for preventing pinching by thewindow glass when the blocked state is detected by the detection meansduring when the window glass is moved by the drive mechanism, andwherein the optical system is arranged at a position corresponding to anopening formed on an inner circumferential surface of the frame portionso that an optical axis of the optical system passes through theopening.
 2. The vehicle window glass raising/lowering device accordingto claim 1, wherein the optical system of the camera is arranged abovethe door trim.
 3. The vehicle window glass raising/lowering deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the frame portion comprises a rear uprightportion extending upwards from an end of the storage portion on the rearside in a front-back direction of the vehicle, a front upright portionextending upwards from the storage portion on a front side with respectto the rear upright portion, and an upper extended portion extendingfrom a top end of the rear upright portion to a top end of the frontupright portion, and wherein the optical system is arranged at aposition corresponding to the opening formed on an inner circumferentialsurface of the upper extended portion so that the optical axis of theoptical system passes through the opening.
 4. The vehicle window glassraising/lowering device according to claim 1, further comprising a lightsource that emits infrared radiation toward the detection line, whereinthe camera comprises an infrared camera that captures the infraredradiation emitted from the light source and reflected by the detectionline.
 5. The vehicle window glass raising/lowering device according toclaim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a commandcancellation means that cancels a command for moving the window glasswhen the blocked state is detected by the detection means after issuingthe command and before starting movement of the window glass.
 6. Avehicle door, comprising: a storage portion for housing a window glass;a frame portion provided above the storage portion; a drive mechanismthat vertically moves the window glass relative to the frame portion; acontrol unit for controlling the drive mechanism; and a camera forcapturing an image of a detection line provided on the vehicle interiorside with respect to the window glass, the detection line being along atleast a portion of the frame portion and an upper surface of a door trimattached on a vehicle interior side of the storage portion, wherein thecamera comprises an optical system including at least one lens and animage pickup device onto which a subject image is focused by the opticalsystem, wherein the control unit comprises a detection means fordetecting a blocked state in which the detection line captured in animage by the camera is at least partially blocked by a foreign object,and a pinching prevention means that causes the drive mechanism toperform a pinch prevention operation for preventing pinching by thewindow glass when the blocked state is detected by the detection meansduring when the window glass is moved by the drive mechanism, andwherein the optical system is arranged at a position corresponding tothe opening formed on an inner circumferential surface of the frameportion so that an optical axis of the optical system passes through theopening.
 7. The vehicle door according to claim 6, wherein the openingis formed above the door trim.
 8. The vehicle door according to claim 7,wherein the frame portion comprises a rear upright portion extendingupwards from an end of the storage portion on the rear side in afront-back direction of the vehicle, a front upright portion extendingupwards from the storage portion on a front side with respect to therear upright portion, and an upper extended portion extending from a topend of the rear upright portion to a top end of the front uprightportion, and wherein the optical system is arranged at a positioncorresponding to the opening formed on an inner circumferential surfaceof the upper extending portion so that an optical axis of the opticalsystem passes through the opening.
 9. The vehicle door according toclaim 6, further comprising a light source that emit infrared radiationtoward the detection line, wherein the camera comprises an infraredcamera that captures the infrared radiation emitted from the lightsources and reflected by the detection line.
 10. The vehicle dooraccording to claim 6, wherein the control unit further comprises acommand cancellation means that cancels a command for moving the windowglass when the blocked state is detected by the detection means afterissuing the command and before starting movement of the window glass.11. A vehicle, comprising the vehicle door according to claim 6.